Urban forestry plan wins city approval

Urban forestry plan wins city approval

January 16, 2014|Michael W. Freeman, Winter Park Forum Editor

WINTER PARK — Moments before the Winter Park City Commission approved an Urban Forest Management Plan, Mayor Kenneth Bradley said he hopes the city doesn’t just rely on the government to ensure that Winter Park’s thousands of trees are well maintained.

Residents, he said, have a role to play, too.

“If we plant a new tree in front of your home, it’s an equal responsibility to water it,” Bradley said. “I want to teach people how to do that.”

The commission approved the plan that had been developed by Dru Dennison, manager of the city’s Urban Forestry Division, during the commission’s meeting on Jan. 13. The plan is intended to create a long-term approach to managing the city’s 80,000 trees, of which half are Laurel Oaks.

Under the plan, Dennison told commissioners, “Someone actually goes out and evaluates the trees, and then gives it a number, from the highest risk at 14 down to 6.”

It also brings together different city agencies to care for existing trees, keep them trimmed, and plant new ones, she said.

“We utilize everybody’s efforts at once,” Dennison said. “In the plan, we recommend to not plant more than 50 percent Live Oaks, and then evaluate that for the next few years. There are so many areas downtown we are not able to plant Live Oaks because of utility wires.”

Assistant City Manager Michelle del Valle said the draft plan was endorsed by the city’s Tree Preservation Board before it was submitted to the city commission for final approval.

“We’ve put together a set of policies,” she told commissioners. “The Tree Preservation Board unanimously approved all the policies to be brought to you.”

The plan covers the overall maintenance of the city’s trees, and that includes 30,000 trees on public right of way properties. Winter Park is unique because it is one of only a handful of cities that make it the responsibility of homeowners who house abuts a tree on a public right of way for maintaining that tree. Most other local government make it the responsibility of the city itself.

During debate on the plan, commissioners were mostly concerned about whether the plan would cost more money, and what it meant to diversify the city’s current tree population.

“Do we know how much of our right of way can support the planting?” Commissioner Carolyn Cooper asked.

Dennison said they hope to both maintain the healthy trees along the city’s right of way, while adding new ones.

“We would like to diversify, but also maintain our canopy of Live Oaks,” she said. “The goal moving forward is to maintain and continue to have a tree-lined canopy.”

Del Valle added, “We’re looking to begin utilizing these practices.”

Cooper said she was concerned that the city’s unique Live Oak tree population be maintained. She was the only commissioner to vote against adopting the Urban Forestry Management plan.

“You’re asking us to adopt an Urban Forestry Plan without any clear level of service,” she said. “I believe Winter Park is known for its signature canopy streets, and that’s something we have to keep. That is our calling card. That is what establishes our value, and what establishes our brand.”

Commissioner Tom McMacken agreed and said he doesn’t want to replace Live Oaks with a different tree.

“I think that within the streets of Winter Park, oak trees are one of the signature elements of the city,” he said. “I am really concerned saying that we will only replant 50 percent of our trees, and diversify. I just believe that within the right of way, it should be oaks first, if it fits.”

Commissioner Steve Leary echoed that, saying “I’d like to see Live Oaks continue in the city. I think they’re important.”

Bradley said he wants to use this plan to educate residents on what they, too, can do to help Winter Park’s tree population.

“The citizens have to be involved in this,” he said. “There should always be a joint responsibility.”